"I knew I only had enough oxygen for a little over an hour" – Alice Koone
“In December 2007, I finally received a called from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. I had been on a waiting list for a double lung tansplant. At that time, I was on 10 liters of oxygen (even resting) just to survive. I only had two portable tanks full. Each one would last only about 35 or 40 minutes. They told me I had only a little over an hour to get to the hospital which is 80 miles from my house.
When we got about 30 miles down the interstate (which was under construction at the time) we hit grid locked traffic. People were actually out of their cars walking around. Someone came by and told us that there was a wreck up ahead with fatalities and we could be stuck there for hours. Panic set in. I knew I only had enough oxygen for a little over an hour. Then I said to my husband, ‘Hey, remember ya’ll made me keep that OnStar deal? I have never used it, but I think you just press this button. Let’s give it a try.’
Stuck in traffic with no time to lose.
We did and the OnStar operator came on and ask us what we needed. We explained the situation. She contacted the Coweta county law enforcement. They told us to sit in the car and just keep blinking our lights until they found us. OnStar remained on the line along with the Coweta County officers.
They found us, maneuvered the traffic to get us to the left shoulder, and escorted us through the scene of the accident and sent us on our way. About two miles downthe road…….Grid locked traffic AGAIN !!! OnStar was still on the line along with the police. They found us again and escorted us through yet another accident. In the mean time, OnStar had contacted my transplant team to let them know the situation.She also contacted the Atlanta area law enforcement. Now everybody was involved. The transplant team would ask where we were. I would tell them ‘I don’t know’. OnStar would then respond by telling our exact location and would let them know about how many minutes it would be until we arrived at the emergency room. The translant team said the would give me until 6:00 am to arrive. Escorted down the interstate, we finally made it to the hospital. I looked at the clock on the wall as we checked in. It was 6:02. We had made it just in time. OnStar had remained on line with us until we arrived at the hospital. THANK YOU !! If it had not been for OnStar, there is no doubt in my mind that we would have never made it there in time. With out this transplant I would not have made it much longer. I am now very healthy, happy, and active. I still am driving my 2005 Trailblazer. When and if I ever get a new car, it most definitly include OnStar. THANK YOU, ONSTAR !!!!!!!!”
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Tags: Advisor, Emergency Services
I am Alice’s oldest sister. Thank you, Onstar for being there when my family needed you. To the transplant team and the family who donated organs of a loved one, many thanks are due. But the greatest thanks are to God for putting everyone in place in order for this to happen. Thank you to everyone who had a part and a great thank you to Onstar.